Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFLOXIM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFLOXIM’, particularly characterized by having light reddish-purple flowers with red-purple lips, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFLOXIM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFLOXIM’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous attractive light reddish-purple flowers with red-purple lips,suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFLOXIM’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in February 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘14261-01’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘22715-05’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in April 2009. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 25, 2017. ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effectivefiling date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, and can be usedto distinguish ‘PHALFLOXIM’ as a new and distinct variety ofPhalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Light reddish-purple flowers with red-purple lips;    -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in October 2018. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALFLOXIM’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFLOXIM’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALFLOXIM’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFLOXIM’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in October 2018 onflowering plants which were planted in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots.After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12 centimeter (diameter)pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks,continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFLOXIM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘14261-01’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22715-05’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (RHS 190B/C) colored roots            with branching lateral roots having red-purple (RHS N77B to            N77C) colored root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual            propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24            weeks. After transplantation into 12 cm pots, the plants are            finished after 48 to 50 weeks.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with            raceme to panicle inflorescence.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 53.0 cm to 58.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 37.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 22.0 cm            to 27.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated to very elongated. Apex: Obtuse            unequal. Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from            the horizontal position): Between 30 degrees and 40 degrees.            Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower            surface: RHS 146B with dark red edge (RHS 187A). Texture            (upper surface): Rough. Thickness: 2.1 mm to 2.4 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B and diluting dark            red (RHS 187A).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 16.        -   Length.—53.0 cm to 58.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.3 mm to 5.8 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200A).        -   Internode length.—4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 250.0 mm to            300.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 75.0 mm to 80.0 mm. Diameter: 97.0 mm to            102.0 mm. Depth of lip: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 7 to 12 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.            Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color:            Purplish-red (RHS N77B).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded to slightly emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Entire.            Length (from base to tip): 48.0 mm to 50.0 mm. Width: 58.0            mm to 60.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76A). Over color:            Reddish-purple shade (between RHS N78B and N78C). Lower            surface: Basic color: Very light purple (RHS 76B). Over            color: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B) at the base and            purplish-pink (RHS N78C) toward tip.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse emarginated.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 48.0 mm to            50.0 mm. Width: 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 77D).            Over color: Reddish-purple shade (RHS N78B). Lower surface:            Basic color: Light reddish-purple (RHS N78D). Over color:            Reddish-purple (RHS N78B).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 49.0 mm to            51.0 mm. Width: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light reddish-purple            (RHS N78D). Over color: Slightly light yellow-green (RHS            145D) at the base; dotted (RHS 184A). Lower surface: Basic            color: Purplish-pink (RHS N78C). Over color: Red (RHS 183D)            and reddish-purple venation (RHS N78B) toward the tip.        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 17.0            mm to 19.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Reddish-purple (RHS N78A)            with white margin (RHS NN155C) and light greenish-yellow tip            (RHS 8C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.            Margin: Undulated. Length: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 16.0            mm to 18.0 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C) at the base with            dark red stripes (RHS 183B); brownish-orange (RHS N170A) on            one side and reddish-purple (RHS N78A to N78B) toward other            side with very light purple margin (RHS 76B).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular to ovate. Margin: Entire.            Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.            Color: Brown-reddish-orange (RHS 172A to 172B) at the base            and reddish-purple (RHS N78B) toward whiskers.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large. Height: 7.0 mm to            8.0 mm. Length: 7.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.            Color: Yellow (RHS 9A); dotted (RHS 183B).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.7 mm to            6.0 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS 76A) at the base with            reddish-purple region (RHS N78B) toward the tip.        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:            Orange (RHS 25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to            2.8 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS 186D) toward the flower.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Diameter: 2.9 mm to            3.2 mm. Color: Mix of light green and red (RHS 146C and            182B) at the base; light purple (RHS 186D) toward the            flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis to date.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALFLOXIM’ differs from female parent plant ‘14261-01’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has flowers with an upper surface basic color of lightpurple (RHS 76A) and a shaded pattern, whereas ‘14261-01’ has flowerswith an upper surface basic color of very light purple (RHS 76C) and ashaded and striped pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has columns thatare light purple (RHS 76A) at the base with a reddish-purple region (RHSN78B) toward the tip, whereas ‘14261-01’ has columns that arepurplish-pink (RHS N78C).

‘PHALFLOXIM’ differs from male parent plant ‘22715-05’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has flowers with an upper surface basic color of lightpurple (RHS 76A) and a shaded pattern, whereas ‘22715-05’ has flowerswith an upper surface basic color of reddish-purple (RHS N78A to N78B)and an edged pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has columns that arelight purple (RHS 76A) at the base with a reddish-purple region (RHSN78B) toward the tip, whereas ‘22715-05’ has columns that arereddish-purple (RHS N78A to N78B).

‘PHALFLOXIM’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALCIMEI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,200) and ‘PHALDESBIM’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 27,671). ‘PHALFLOXIM’ differs from the commercial variety‘PHALCIMEI’ in that ‘PHALFLOXIM’ has obtuse unequal leaf apexes, whereas‘PHALCIMEI’ has unequal mucronate leaf apexes. Additionally,‘PHALFLOXIM’ has smaller flowers, shorter whiskers and shorter dorsalsepals than ‘PHALCIMEI’.

‘PHALFLOXIM’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDESBIM’ in that‘PHALFLOXIM’ has petals with an open/free arrangement, whereas‘PHALDESBIM’ has petals that are almost touching. Additionally,‘PHALFLOXIM’ has larger flowers, longer leaves and longer dorsal sepalsthan ‘PHALDESBIM’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFLOXIM’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.